What's the status? - From the President

What's the status?
(from the president, continued...)

The Women of Distinction achievement awards luncheon was one of the best ever! Under Karen Tacket and Nanette Piña’s coordination, a beautiful luncheon and awards ceremony took place on March 12. Among community award recipients was Barbara George for Community Service-Professional. There were also two new awards announced, the “Barbara George Women in Philanthropy” and the “Susan Dressler Women in Administrative Leadership.” Celebrating the accomplishments of local women is a service Cuesta provides to the community every year.
Certified Nursing Assistants—29 in total and the largest class in the program’s history—graduated on March 18th. Thanks to the fine teaching and leadership of Fay Johnson and colleague Elizabeth D’Albro, 29 CNAs are more prepared for the Nursing program or the workforce.
Swimmers and Divers—over 1,000— braved freezing rain and swam their hearts out March 18-19 in the largest swim meet in the U.S. John Marsh and colleagues did an awesome job with what was certainly the largest swim meet in Cuesta’s history. Cuesta’s Men’s Team came in 14th and the Women’s Team took 9th!
The Cultural Diversity and Student Equity Committee has had the richest program of films, lectures, discussion, and performances for Black History and Women’s History months and is doing a great job with “Celebrating Diversity” for the month of April. Alisa Klinger was a key organizer of the Women’s History film, A Place of Rage. Check out the CDSE web site at http://academic.cuesta.edu/cultural/ and read the messages from Chair, Bailey Drechsler. The CDSE Committee is our star committee this year, providing so much opportunity for all of us to learn, think, and improve our own cultural competency.
“The Silent Takeover” is my name for the successful transfer of utilities, data, and telephone lines between March 26 and April 3. Under the able direction of Pete Pedroni, MOG Director, Terry Reece and electrician, Warren Clift, Computer Services members Jay Chalfant and Grant Chesy, and Public Safety members Justin Loncar, Brian Fukuhara, and Juan Caranza made this incredibly technical transfer so unbelievably smooth. And what did Ed and I do? Ed was in constant phone communication with his team but as for me, I didn’t even worry—I knew our guys could do this!
Beautiful music was made by the Cuesta Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Vocé/Chamber singers in three recent concerts under the creative direction of Jennifer Martin, James Miley, and John Knutson. Praises to Bea Anderson for graciously selling tickets and supporting all of these events.
Straight Man, awarded the book of the year teaches us that it never hurts to laugh at ourselves.
Show Me the Money! – A phenomenal effort was made by Financial Aid Director, Robin Crowford, and her staff to conduct such a successful and informative event.
Safe Spring Break – Under the guidance of Karen Robert, the Associated Students of Cuesta College organized a “Safe Spring Break” campaign. The purpose of the campaign was to be an advocate of safe choices for students, from students. Karen Robert and Meghan Walters informed the Board of Trustees of their campaign and the program activities to let them know it was a great success. The event attracted over 400 visitors.
Student Art Show – The always inspiring student art show will start on April 15th and continue through May 13. The Art Gallery: Reception and Awards for Student Art Exhibition 2005 will take place on April 15th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the SLO Campus Art Gallery.
90.6% or $476,029 of the $525,289 of the tuition fees increase implemented last fall has been collected under the able cashiering of Betta Knerr and Kim Volk and under the guidance of Director of Fiscal Services, Patricia Golden.
Spring “break” Maintenance, Operations, and Grounds completed a few projects: 1) repaving and striping Hollister Road, 2) safety tree trimming 16 trees, 3) replaced 4600 restroom door with new steel door, 4) replaced 4600 classroom door with new steel door, 5) removed old and installed new handrails for 6300 building complex, 6) removed and installed new faucets for 2200 Biology Lab, 7) sealed and striped Lot 5, 8) cleaned carpets in 5104, 5401, 5402, 5403; 9) installed border fence in Lot 4, 10) re-lamped perimeter campus lighting, 11) re-lamped Library lighting, 12) tested campus fire alarm, 13) removed staff parking in auto tech yard, 14) NCC—roof overlay of 6000 building, 15) NCC—sealed and striped parking lot, and 16) NCC—sealed inner campus walkways. And that’s why the campus looks and feels wonderful!
Student Support 5th Annual Web Retreat was held March 22. Among the information staff shared with each other was what they learned through a Student Survey on the Cuesta College Web Page, coordinated by Bob Mariucci, with assistance from several Student Support, counselors, managers, and classified staff. Students’ highest uses of Cuesta’s web site is for registration http://www.cuesta.edu/apply.asp, PAWS http://my.cuesta.edu, grades, and financial aid http://academic.cuesta.edu/finaid/; they find the Home Page http://www.cuesta.edu/, easy and understandable, frequently look for FAFSA (financial aid) information and are just discovering the wealth of information available in the on-line Student Handbook.
Tech Fair on April 8 was the best ever, thanks to the leadership of Sabrina Robertson and the entire vocational/technical faculty. It was great fun to watch the high school students compete in robotics, create inventive fashions out of fabric scraps and duct tape, rock gently in the Architecture students’ cardboard rocking chair, learn about the new Culinary Arts program, and join the KGUR students on air. Terrific work by every full-time faculty, part-time faculty, division chair, dean and classified staff involved—Cuesta College is a comprehensive college!
Institutional Advancement keeps on advancing Cuesta College! Public Information and Marketing staffers Scott Roark, Stephan Gunsaulus, and Anna Chaffin have been notified that they will win at least one award at next week’s CCPRO awards dinner, the Summer class Schedule is delightfully attractive, and the next issue of “Connections” will be in your mailbox in two weeks. Donations to the Annual Fund and special projects are gradually growing, and the Estate of Joan Aykeson just contributed $20,000 for the Theater Arts Building. The Foundation Board is supporting the Alumni Association’s Celebration of Graduates Campus Barbecue, open to graduating students, on May 19.
Wellness took a step forward thanks to the S-A-Thon and all the active organizers and participants. Congratulations to these healthy employees for helping motivate the rest of us to take wellness seriously.
April is Poetry Month so don’t miss the pleasure of listening to poetry readings on the SLO Campus on April 16th and 18th or on the North County Campus on April 13th, 14th, and 18th – 20th, thanks to Margaret Heibert, Donner Bower, Sean Boling, and Sandee McLaughlin.
Every hiring committee is on time and doing careful, thorough work. Human Resources staff are providing superior support. One full-time position has been filled, pending Board approval, and the next three weeks are filled with committee and final interviews. By May 20th we will have hired 8 new full-time faculty, division chairs, NCC coordinators, and a dean.
Two April Board meetings, the regular one on April 4th, which included resolutions honoring the Classified Employees and Month of the Child, and April 19 which will be a Board Study Session to learn about planning, conducting, and funding a local bond measure. The April 19th meeting is open to the campus and will be held in Room 5401 at 4:00 p.m.

So many praises to sing, no end of opportunity to say thank-you and job well done.